Portable airway-suction systems: a comparison of performance

A number of portable suction systems (powered either manually, pneumatically, or electrically) are available. We compared the performance of three electric systems (Laerdal Medical LSU, Laerdal Medical CSU, and Matrx Medical) and two manual systems (Vitalograph Emergency Aspirator and California Medical V-VAC) to wall suction set at maximum pressure of 300 torr [39.9 kPa].

We determined the maximum pressure each system was capable of generating, and we measured the volume of imitation maple syrup each system at maximum pressure could suction within 5 seconds and the time required by each system at maximum pressure to suction 150 mL of syrup. In addition, we evaluated the life of each electric system's internal battery.

All the electric systems were capable of generating suction pressure greater than 300 torr [39.9 kPa]. The amount of time required by the electric systems to suction 150 mL of syrup was not significantly different from that required by wall suction. In 5 seconds, wall suction suctioned a significantly greater volume of syrup than did the Matrx Medical system (p less than 0.05, ANOVA), but a significantly smaller volume of syrup than did the Laerdal Medical CSU system (p less than 0.05, ANOVA). The manual Vitalograph Emergency Aspirator was capable of generating 300 torr [39.9 kPa] pressure, but the California Medical V-VAC was not. Wall suction significantly outperformed both of the manual systems when volume of syrup suctioned in 5 seconds and time required to suction 150 mL of syrup were compared (P less than 0.05 ANOVA). All electric systems were capable of maintaining maximum suction greater than 15 minutes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)